Draft regulator



March 4, 1958 w. F. STEINEN 2,825,506

DRAFT REGULATOR Filed May 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

W BY

March 4, 1958 W; F. STEINEN 2,825,506

DRAFT REGULATOR Filed May 11, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. WuLia/n F{rem/5w hired States Patent DRAFT REGULATOR William F. Steinen,Springfield, N. J.

Application May 11, 1953, Serial No. 354,267

4 Claims. (Cl. 236-45) The present invention relates to a draftregulator, and it particularly relates to a novel draft regulator to beused either in the home, factory or oflice in connection with heatingand ventilating systems.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a noveldraft regulator or draft control which will be of low cost and providereliable control, which will have a high relief capacity, which maybereadily installed without excessive cost or a requirement of highlyskilled labor and which will be attractive in appearance.

Another object is to provide an accurately calibrated draft control ordraft regulator device which may be readily adjusted and accurately setto operate effectively over a considerable range, and which is designedto be utilized in connection with the usual types of ventilating ordraft conduits.

A further object is to provide a draft regulator which may beuniversally employed in connection with heating and power boilers,domestic heating plants, and heating appliances in general, and whichmay be readily mounted in suitable openings, in flue risers, smokebreeching equipment, for the purpose of automatically regulating orcontrolling the draft in the combustion chambers and such equipment toeifect more complete combustion of the fuel and greater absorption ofheat from the combustion gases.

Still another object is to provide a draft controller or draft regulatorwhich will operate most effectively and reliably regardless ofvariations in stack or chimney drafts, changing weather conditions,winds, barometric pressure and outside temperature differences, andwhich will not permit too much air to be drawn into the combustionchamber.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simple,inexpensive, readily installed regulator of high sensitivity andoperating efficiency, which assures economic operation of the heatingequipment with which it is used, of compact form, so little space isrequired for its installation and for its shipment and storage, and

of sturdy and rugged construction, which gives it a long service lifewithout requiring constant attention.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detaileddescription set forth below, it being understood, however, that thismore detailed description is given by way of illustration andexplanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changestherein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most satisfactory,according to one embodiment of the present invention, to provide acircular, dished draft supporting frame work which may be readilymounted upon any suitable thimble or circular opening, or which may bereadily associated with any flue or cylindrical air conduit by a simplecollar, tube or thimble.

A particular feature of the present invention resides in the fact thatthere is provided a swinging draft regulator door or vane which ispivotally mounted or hinged well below the center of the vane upon thedraft regulator housing ring or mounting annulus.

In a preferred form of the invention the hinge construction consists ofa fixed rod or shaft extending partly or all the way across the openingfor the swinging vane or door.

The openings which suspend or hang the vane upon the fixed split orcontinuous shaft are so designed that the hinge connections will give aline-contact and will be self-cleaning as the vane or door swings fromopened to closed position and vice versa. This will reduce friction to aminimum, giving the swinging vane a high degree of sensitivity.

Desirably the lower portion of the vane or door is of reduced width andweight so the maximum weight of the swinging vane will be above thehinge or pivot connection.

A particular feature of the present invention resides in the adjustmentwhich consists of a sliding weighted bar having weights at both ends ofthe bar, which extends transversely to the plane of the vane, and whichis adjustable in respect to the spacing of the weights from the vane. Byadjusting both weights simultaneously, there is avoided unbalancing ofthe vane and loss in sensitivity as occurs when only the forward weightis adjustable.

Desirably this adjusting weighted bar is mounted upon a slotted bracketwhich extends downwardly and forwardly from the front of the swingingvane to hold said weighted bar substantially below the hinge or pivotmount. This construction is particularly suitable for quick and accurateadjustment of the draft regulator vane to the requirement of theparticular installation on which it is placed.

Desirably the two weights are simultaneously adjusted forwardly orbackwardly in respect to the vane to give a desired adjustment ofbalance of the vane, but are fixed in respect to the adjustment bar.

The forward weight is knurled and mounted on a threaded member andserves both as an adjustment handle and to lock the bar in adjustedposition.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists ofthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts ashereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the inventicn,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of one form of draft regulator,according to the present invention, mounted upon a conduit.

Fig. 2 is a transverse fragmentary vertical sectional view upon the line2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view partly in section of the back of thedraft regulator, mounted upon a collar for connection to a flue.

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view similar to Fig. 2, showing the vane inopen position.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal transverse sectional view taken upon the line 55of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view taken uponthe line 66 of Fig. 1, showing the vane stop in its uppermost position.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view similar toFig. 6, showing the stop in its lowermost position with the vane open.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary bottom elevational view of the inside or rearend of the adjusting lever.

. 12 whichc'losely fits at l3 insi de .14 of the recurrences.-

7 From the structure ofthe 7 there are stamped out" twoforwardlyextending straps:

- Fig. 91. is a fragmentary top-view at the forward end of .thesupporting bracketand. adjustment bar showing an alternative system ofgraduations.

Fig. 10 is a schematic side elevational view of an alternative. form ofadjusting lever with both 'weight's mounted on thelower'side of 'the'lever? Fig. 11 is a side elevationalview uponthe;line"11+11 ReferringtoFigs. 110 '8, there is" shown a vertical-fine V or'c'onduit Alliaving a"Connection B which ma'y receive the frameor housing C andthe rotatingvane Fixed to :thehousing and frame aretwo stub pivot f :shaftsE whichengage'the'hearing plates F mounted upon 'j the swinging Vane D.The-vane D 'G and the forward fweight H. 1

carries the rear weight Thel'collar or"frame'c fconsists ofan'autsiaafiange '10 which abuts up against the: end 1-1 oii theConnection V B. The frame is alsoprovided with an inturned flange Q JhsT ntamed t l s:

M Inturned from theflange lz is the peripheral dean centric section 15which, as indicated best in Figs. 1

' and 4, has a spacing; 1 6 lfrom the upper peripheral edge 17, of thevvanef D. This short peripheral, fiange'section' 15 extends downwardlyon each'side toa point 18 at or Iadjacentithe hinge line19.; The hingeline 19; is substantially below the geometrical centerline 19a of thevane D.

a "The. peripheral flange as" is best shown in Figs. 1 and 4 thenextends downwardly as indicated at 20 and has an oblique inwardlyextending edge 21 and a vertical,

' edge 22.

' The edge 22 then extends downwardly? to the circular portion 23. Thespacing 16' is maintained a124, ZS and a at 26 around the entireperiphery of the vane D so that 7 the vane D will be spacedfrornthefiange.15'2,0 .all

aroundits periphery. r a A enlarged frame portions 20a '23. and one'rearwardly extending strap 24',i(see Figs. 1

and 5),.into which the ends 25' of the stub. shafts E arefixedlymountedpf. 1; 7 .f

The ends 25' of the-stub shaftsE abutithe edge 26 in the enlargedportion 2 0a,as shownin Fig. 3. a

The vaneD will have a circular top portion 'and a reduced widthlow'erportion 36. The lower sides of the vane D. below "the center line-19awill receive the base flanges 37 of'blaringplates F.

These base flanges 37 are riveted on the vane D atlfls.

tensions 39 withthe bent over edges '41; V

1 Both 'flanges 37fcar'ry the sidewar'dly extending stopuex- Eachbearingplate F, as1 shown in Fig-. 2, also has arearextenSibn 40. V a VV V j Between therivet connections 38' there may be provided thelocation embossments 42 fitting into openings 43 (see Figsrl and 3). a

In Fig.3,-the metal of the base flange is extruded V Theperipheryof thehousing Cl is provided with a notch and an alignment groove 56'; (seeFig: '1). j ,Theweightcd adjustment graduated bar 56:is mounted.

. by'the bracket 57 and extends through a"slot 5 8 in the vanegD, asshown in Fig. '2.

' as indicated 'at 43 to-fit intothe openings 42 (see Fig. 1)inthevaneD.r 'Asfshown best in Fig. 5, the vane; plate 'D will be re- Y 6 cessed asindicatedlby 45 so that it will clear the'ends 46 o f'thestub'shaft a rAt. the rear end, the bar 56 carries the'fixed weight G. This weight Gis held in position byja screw 60 ex-' tending through the slot or hole59, as shown in .Fig'.

The outside end of the graduated bar 56 on the other side of the vaneplate D has a weight61, The weight 61jis mounted by the screw bolt'62 onthe bar-56 and the bar 56 with the weightsG and H may bexpositioned inany adjusted position, being clamped in positionby the screw 62, ashownin Figs; 2 an '11. ::The an. ing.130 and..131 will enable looseningandl tighte'ning- V of the weightH.

By adjusting the bar forwardly andlbackwardly f by'looseningrortightening the weight H, it is possible to' adjust and regulate thebalance of the vane D.

The screw 62 and weightH when tightened thereon; will hold the, slidingweighted bar 56 in any adjusted position. lf 'desired a lock washer maybe utilized to" assure hat the weight H will not become loose'on hscrew62." o I A limited adjustment iis' also 'The bracket 57 has aribbedoblique portion 10!) and abas ei portion 101'- provided with theadjusting slot'102 and. it carries a corresponding graduation -linef103"t o 7 correspond with thegraduation 63- forwardly extendi'ng' V wportion of 'th'e adjustment bar '56, as shown in Figs. 4,]

Sand 9. The'alternative graduations 63"and 103 ;(Fig 9) will be equallyelfective'. 7 q V g i V s The stub shafts E as shownin Fig. 6 fitlilQCCBlltl'lC openings 75 in the extensions 76 of thebearingplatesF'. 7

V The swinging movement of the vane D will bestopped V in closedposition by thestop extensions 39 which extend to the side and overlapthe'flange portions 20a.-- 7

These extensions 39 will act as stops against the upper edge portions of.thejenlargeme'nt 20a when the vane D 'is.in olosed' position;asjshownin Fig; 3;' .In open position the lower corner 96 of the bearingplate exten- 'sion 40 will striltethe lower; peripheral edge 97' of-.the

casingstructure or annulus C, as indicated bestfin Fig;

V In Fig. 10', an alternativejform ofQadjustingfbar 56 i is illustrated,in which both weights H o'n the outsidev and G onthe inside, dependoraremounted onfthe lower 7 side of the bar'56. i

Both weights G and H of spect to the fvane. D. will giveth'e desiredadjustment. 1

As indicated in Figs, 10 and 11, the front 'weight ma'y have serratedportions andg131 for betterj gripping purposes when locking'and.unlockingflthe' weight while making an adjustment. The Tserrationsals'oiserveinanJ ornamental manner. V -i By this adjustment bar,'it ispossible toadjustlbothfthe g 7 front and back weights G and Hsimultaneouslyj'with each movement of the adjustmentjbargivingaadjustment'effect.

Thefix'ed split, hinge rod Etogether with theec 'centric hinge openingsrenders thehingenconnectioniof the vaneself-cleaning.

The adjustment bar 56 gravity at 19a. 7

By using the slidingbar thimbleto the sides of the opening-in thefiueA.1

Afterthis-has been done, the outline' of theiconnec-ji tion maybe'mark'ed-upon the flue Aand the portion of 70 the flue which is'tocommunicate with the thimbleiB removed; r

:The. draft regulator housingC may then be placediupon ;the, end of thethirnble B and it may he s leveled i the notch 55 and groove 56' 1 Theslidin g'bar 56 may then he adjusted by s'e tting the weight G by'theslot;

7 7 Figs. ItoQ aretixed to'the" H bar,56jso that'only thefrnovement of,the bar'56 in rfe:

renders the swinginglyarie: highly sensitive, as does also thepositioning of'th'elhing'' connections of the vane at 19 wellbelowthelcenter'ot 56 and'w'eights GLandJH as;

shown in Fig. 2, the regulator may' be calibrated i(see Fig. 9). Thecalibration'enable's a persontofadjust:the

regulator to the draft required without the'use of; ameterif Inassembly, the thimblegBfis' pressedagain'st thefiue A'until itscontourfits the flue-Two. holes arj then H V punched. or provided to connectthe lextensionsof the graduating line 103 or 103 in respect to thedesired graduation 63 or 63', depending upon where the setting is to be.

After adjustment by tightening the weight H on the screw 62, a permanentsetting is obtained. 1

The draft regulator as shown permits both front and back adjustmentsWith a single, slight movement of the regulator bar 56. This will keepthe regulator balancedsensitive at any setting and it is not necessaryto make two settings to achieve balance.

The graduations enable a setting to be made without guessing andrepeated trials.

The eccentric hinge openings with the fixed bearing rods or stud Shaftsgive a line contact with very little friction and also give aself-cleaning effect which eliminates and prevents accumulation of sootand dirt.

As many changes could be made in the above draft regulator, and manywidely different embodiments of this invention could be made, withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrativeand not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of theinvention, and in What manner the same is to be performed,

What is claimed is:

1. A draft regulator of the type having an encircling frame enclosurewith a swinging vane lying in a vertical plane when closed and having acenter of gravity and a geometrical center pivotally mounted to swinginto and outside the vertical plane of said enclosure, said enclosureand vane when closed lying in a substantially vertical plane, said vanehaving horizontal pin pivot connections to the sides of the frame fixedto the frame and said vane having bearing plates extending rearwardlytransversely from the plane of the vane pivotally mounted on said pinpivot connections, a horizontal slot in the lower part of the vanespaced well below the pin pivot connections and the center of gravityand geometrical center, a horizontal bar projecting through said slotand extending substantially to the front and to the rear of said vaneand adjustable forwardly and rearwardly in respect to said vane, weightmembers mounted on the front and rear ends of said bar and a supportingbracket permanently attached to the geometrical center of the vane atits upper end extending obliquely downwardly and forwardly of the vaneto hold the front end of the bar, the front end of the bar, the frontweight member and the lower end of the bracket being provided with anadjustable bolt connection to permit said adjustment.

2. The regulator of claim 1, said plates having rearward and sidewardextensions acting as opening and closing steps against said frame.

3. The regulator of claim 1, the lower end of said bracket having ahorizontal portion with a central longitudinal slot to receive andpermit adjustment of said bolt.

4. The regulator of claim 1, the forward weight being cylindrical anddepending from the forward end of the bar and the rearward portion ofthe bar behind the vane being bent slightly upwardly out of the plane ofthe forward end of the bar and said rearward weight being positioned onthe top thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS123,252 Eldridge Jan. 30, 1872 2,264,590 Sabins Dec. 2, 1941 2,289,579Klermund et a1. July 14, 1942 2,555,687 Field June 5, 1951 2,624,513Field Jan. 6, 1953 2,652,200 Field Sept. 15, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS217,436 Switzerland May 16, 1942

